Harlan and Williamsburg are an even 5-5 against one another since March of 2016, but likely not for long. The Green Dragons will be playing at home against the Yellow Jackets at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Harlan is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.4 runs per game this season.
Knott County Central hit Harlan with a five-run fifth inning on Friday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Green Dragons came up short against the Patriots, falling 10-2. The defeat continues a trend for the Green Dragons in their meetings with the Patriots: they've now lost six in a row.
Baylor Varner
| 03/26/25 @ Jackson County | 8 |
| 04/07/25 @ Whitley County | 4 |
| 04/14/25 vs Bell County | 3 |
| 03/17/25 @ Leslie County | 2 |
| 04/28/25 vs Harlan County | 1 |
Baylor Varner put in work while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Harlan is 4-1 when he allows at most three earned runs, but 7-8 otherwise. Varner was also big at the plate, going a perfect 1-for-1 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Varner wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Brody Owens, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base and one double. Owens has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last three times he's played.
Meanwhile, Williamsburg had to endure a 19-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They had just enough and edged out Middlesboro 10-9 on Friday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Yellow Jackets have posted since April 25, 2024.
Colton Gobel was excellent, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Those three RBI gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Logan Petrey, who got on base in two of his four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Williamsburg's win bumped their record up to 2-22. As for Harlan, their loss dropped their record down to 11-9.
Williamsburg's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Saturday. Harlan has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.8 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Williamsburg, though, as they've been averaging only 3.6 strikeouts. Will Harlan keep running through batters, or will the Yellow Jackets buck the trend?
Harlan took their victory against Williamsburg in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 28-1 score. Will the Green Dragons repeat their success, or do the Yellow Jackets have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
